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w. D. WRIGHT FILM FIRE EXTINGUISI'QER Jan. 27, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 29, 1927 INVENTOR.

Walfer D- Wr-I' I-rf' BY ATTORNEY.

Jan. 27, 1931. w. D. WRIGHT 1,790,565

l FILM FIRE EXTINGUISHE'IR Filed Aug. 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

\Nal'rar- D- l ghf A TTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 27, 1931 WALTER :0. Warsaw, on TAoo A, wasnrne'ron FILM-FIRE nxrmeursnnn Application filed August 29, 1927. Serial No. 216,017.

An object of the invention is to put outa' film fire, either automatically or by the act of the operator, before it gets beyondcontrol and causes panic.

Another object is to put out the fire quickly enough to avoid the destruction of the film 19 on the reel.

Another object is .to avoid drenching the film with the extinguishing liquids used in my invention, in case the reacting fluids should get spilled and start action of the device in any other than the normal manner.

I attain these objects by meansof the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of theextinguisher tank, support and other parts, in upright inoperative positioin with the film cabinet 15 seen in Figs. 2 and 4c removed.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, in conjunction with the film cabinet 15.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the tank and its trunnions on line 3-8 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. i is a side view ofthe complete device in its operative position.

The same numerals refer to corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawlngs. I

My invention comprises a tank 1, supported on arms 2 extending forward from bracket 3, which may be secured to a wall or other stable support. The tank is pivotally supported by trunnions 4 and 5 in suitable hearings on arms 2. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the trunnions are off centre and below the centre of gravity of the tank, causing the tank to upset when not otherwise supportech Mounted on bracket 3 is a solenoid coil 10 with plunger 11, the latter being pivoted to lever 7 and normally held outward by spring 12, as seen in Fig. 2, so as to retain the end 6 in its notch.

,Trunnion 5 istubular and as seen in Fig. 3 is connected by elbow 13 with pipe 14 inside the tank, reaching nearly to the top of the tank. Gn the outside, the tubular-trunnion 5 extends horizontally into the film cabinet 15, as seen'in Fig. 2, terminated by a nozzle 16. While the; tank'is supported in inoperative position, nozzle 16 points away from the interior of cabinet'15, as seen in- Fig. 2. InFig. 4:, thetank-is shown-upset I into its operative position and ,where the wall of cabinet 15 is broken away the nozzle 16 is seen turned. over and 'pointingtoward theinterior of cabinet 15.

The release of thetank-to upset bygravity' is brought about electrically, upona-ny considerable rise of temperature'in cabinet15.

When a film fire occurs, it'starts-at the projector lens and rapidly travelsup the film 1 7, Fig. 4, into cabinet15, where m'uch'ot-the film or" the picture may be contained on the reel, indicated in dottedlines'at 18. If not immediately controlled, the fire will envelop the reel and develop into a conflagration which is apt to cause panic in the theatre. My invention provides means for immediately extinguishing the fire before it can get beyond control. i

As the flame travels up film 17 into the cabinet,'its heat first strikes thermostat 19 directly above it. Opening 2O- at theother side of the cabinet provides a vent for encouraging the current othot gases to run up in contact withthe thermostat, thenv across the top of the cabinet and outopening 20.

As seen in Fig. 4, the thermostat may conslst of twosimple strips 21 of thermostatic metal, setin such relationv that a rise ottem- V perature causes their free ends to approach and make contact. The strips are separately secured by bolts 22 and 28, which pass through insulators 24 and 25 and serve as terminal s outside the wall of cabinet 15. j i To these terminals are connected the wires ofthe electric circuits shown, easily under 1 V stood from'Figs. 2 and 4,111 which solenoid is put in series with thermostat 19 and the leads 26 of a source or" current. A shunt circuit may be provided, with switch 27, for manual control.

By this means, when a film fire starts, therinostat 19 closes the circuit, energizing solenoid 10, which pulls in its plunger 11 and withdraws the end 6 of lever 7 from the notch in block 9, upsetting the tank to its operative position, as in Fig. 4. It is obvious thatthe closing of switch 27, by the operator, will accomplish the same result. A leaf spring 28 may be secured to bracket 3 to limit the swing of the tank when it upsets. I

The device is to be charged with any suitable fire extinguishing agents such as a solution of sodium carbonate 29, Fig. 3, nearly filling the tank, and an unstoppered bottle 30 of sulphuric acid, supported from cover 3L Upon upsetting of-the tank, the two liquids mingle, with violent formation of carbon dioXide' gas, the result ng pressure "forcing the solution to discharge through pipe 14, which is now submerged since the tank is upset.

The solution and gas issue as a: froth from nozzle 16,- being spurted over the whole contents'oit' cabinet 15, filling the cabinet with carbon dioxide gas and drenchingthe burning film, with the result that the fire gains little headway after entering the cabinet and is'quickly extinguished. V The invention is not intended to be limited "to theform or any 01": the details. shown or described, but'is intended to embrace the scope of the following claims.

Tfclaim:

1. The combination of a film cabinet and film reel therein with a fire extinguisher comprising a tank operable by rotation, a frame in which said tank is'pivotally mounted, a spout rotatablewith thetank extending angularly in respect to the direction of pivot from said tank into said film cabinet adjacent a film reel therein, said spout di rected" awayfrom, said film reel when the tank is in inoperative position and directed toward said film reel when in operative position. V r v 21 The combination of a film cabinet and 'i'ilrn reel therein with a fire extinguisher com- 7 prising a tank operable by rotation, pivots supporting the tank, one of said pivots forming a conduit communicating with the tank and having'an offset spout angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the pivot, saidofi set spout rotatable'with the tank and extending into the film cabinet, adjacent a film reel therein, said spout directed to dis charge onto said reel uponthe tank assuming an? operative position and away from said reeluponthe tank assuming an inoperative position. p

1 3. The combination of a film cabinet and a magazine therein with afire extin guisher comprising a fire extinguisher tank,

' and normally directed away from said magazine, and means for bringing said. spout from said normal position to a position directed toward said magazine.

4. The combination of a film cabinet and a film reel therein with a fire extinguisher comprising a tank operable by rotation, pivots supporting the tank, 0116 0]? said pivots form ing a conduit communicating with the tank and havin an offset spout angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the pivot, said offset spout rotatable with the tank and extending into the film chamber adjacent a film reel therein, said spout directed to discharge onto said reel upon the tank assuming an operative position and away from said reel upon the tank assuming an inoperative position, and otlier meansfor releasing said tank to'an operative position.

WALTER n. wnioi-ir 7 

